“It won’t suit you.” Jake walked over to the counter to pay Bethany. “But I’ll buy the veil if he really wants it.”
“I’m buying the veil.”
Bethany stood behind the counter. “Whatever for?”
Tucker shrugged. “For kicks.”
Or because he wanted to see it on Penelope one more time. And he wanted her in a white dress when she wore it.
What town had a Thanksgiving meal that included nearly everyone in the community? The next evening, Tucker knew the answer to that question. Treasure Creek was such a town. They took community to an entirely new level. He stood inside the great hall that was lined with tables, and watched as people took seats. Someone handed him a pitcher of water.
Now, what did he do with that?
“Fill the glasses.” Penelope stood next to him. Man, she smelled good. He wanted to lean in and pull her close, not fill glasses with water.
“Fine. I can do that.” Fill glasses, that is. She had a tub of rolls, and as they walked, she filled baskets on the table.
“My parents are here.”
“I know. I said hello.” He had actually talked to her father earlier that day. It had been a busy day, getting ready for his drive back to Seattle, doing some work around the house, and talking to Herman Lear.
“They like you.” Penelope glanced back over her shoulder. Her hair fell forward and she brushed it back. “I’m staying, you know.”
“I thought you were going back to Anchorage.”
“No, I told my dad that I’m staying here. I bought a house and I’m going to do some work with Dr. Havens.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Could you promise me something?”
She stopped filling baskets. “What?”
He leaned forward—close. “Get a GPS and don’t go into the woods alone.”
“You’re very funny.” But she laughed, and he was glad.
They finished, and he followed her back to the table where her parents were sitting. “Mind if I join you all?”
Penelope looked surprised. He doubted if she noticed that no one else in her family looked too shocked. Instead, her brother moved down a seat, giving Tucker the place next to Penelope.
Crowds of people were moving through the building, finding seats, moving to new locations with old friends. Penelope sat very quietly next to Tucker. Finally, she turned to look at him.
“I thought you were leaving, going back to Seattle.”
“I had unfinished business.” He reached for the basket of bread and offered her a roll. She shook her head and he passed the basket to David. “I see.”
“Could we talk later?” Tucker whispered close to her ear, because this really didn’t need to be the latest bit of news to run through the grapevine. “I suppose.”
“After we eat?”
“Of course.”
What if this didn’t go the way he’d planned? Tucker hadn’t really let himself think that until now. He hadn’t allowed himself to think that she might not feel what he felt. Even as the thought tried to surface, he pushed it back down. He was going to be an optimist if it killed him.
Penelope couldn’t stop the trembling in her hands. All through the meal, rather than thinking of all that she was thankful for, she thought about Tucker sitting next to her and Tucker wanting to talk to her. He looked so serious.
She tried to avoid looking at him. Instead, she watched Joleen talk to Harry. Joleen, kind of calm, her voice quiet, and Harry not looking completely cornered or stricken. Penelope was proud of herself for talking Joleen through the finer steps of courting. The gist of it had been about not coming on too strong.
And Delilah. They’d met together for a women’s prayer meeting.
Her brother, David, had been wrong. There was plenty to do in Treasure Creek. There weren’t any country clubs, and the restaurants weren’t fancy, but life was good in this small community. And the new beauty parlor, where she’d gotten her hair done, was hiring a manicurist and a massage therapist.
The dinner she had looked forward to fell apart, though. She couldn’t eat with Tucker sitting next to her, talking to the people around them as if everything was great.
Of course, maybe it was great for Tucker Lawson. He was settling up his life here and heading back to Seattle. He’d found the faith he’d lost as a child. He had reconnected with his friends. He’d forgiven himself. She could see in his face, in the way his hazel eyes flashed with warmth, that life was better for him.
“Stop looking so sad.” He leaned close to her ear, and the way he brushed close to her cheek felt as if he had kissed her. He even paused close to her ear.
She closed her eyes. “I’m not sad. I am going to miss you.”
There, she’d said it. And when she did, a tear sneaked out and slid down her cheek. He caught it with his finger and then he brushed his hand across her cheek as gently as if he were touching a hummingbird.
“Come with me.” He scooted his chair back and she slid hers out, but then she hesitated.
If she left with him, she’d fall apart in his arms. She might actually beg him to take her father up on his offer. She might tell him that she’d never loved anyone the way she loved him. She might forget all of the good advice she’d given Joleen and come on too strong.
“Pen, go with the man.” David winked and gave her a light push when she couldn’t quite make her feet move.
It was suddenly a good idea to leave, because tears were burning her eyes and she thought she might be about to fall apart. Lost, abducted, nearly married off to the highest bidder, and now she was losing it? That was ridiculous. She was a Lear. She took a deep breath and pulled it together to follow Tucker outside.
He reached for her hand, and they walked side by side down the street. Christmas lights twinkled around them and they could hear the music from the Christmas store.
“Where are we going?”
“To the park.”
“It’s cold to be out for a walk.” She shivered inside the down coat and Tucker’s arm went around her, pulling her close.
“Remember when you sang ‘Winter Wonderland.’”
“And you didn’t appreciate it.”
He laughed and she leaned closer to him. He sang the lyrics about building a snowman.
She laughed and finished with naming him Parson Brown.
Tucker reached for her hand and pulled her in the direction of the park. “I have to show you what I made for you.”
His voice was husky and light. He hurried and she nearly had to run. “Tucker, slow down.”
“I can’t.” He laughed and led her on. “‘He’ll say are you married, we’ll say no, man…’”
He stopped and Penelope stopped next to him, her breath freezing in her lungs. The park twinkled with snow and Christmas lights. In the middle of it all was a snowman. He wore a top hat and red scarf, and a Bible was on a little stand in front of him. “Tucker?”
He pulled her close. “I found Parson Brown.”
“I see.” But she didn’t, and tears were rolling down her cheeks, warm on her cold flesh. She tried to brush them away, but more fell.
Tucker leaned and kissed them away. His lips brushed hers and then settled, kissing her until it didn’t matter that it was November in Alaska and snow was falling. Or maybe that’s what made it all perfect. It was cold, but his arms around her were warm and he’d built her a snowman on Thanksgiving.
He held her close and his breath was soft near her ear. “I have something else for you.”
When he pulled back his hand went to his pocket. He pulled out the gossamer veil she’d tried on at Bethany’s. As she stood there trembling, from cold and from the moment, he slid the veil over her head.
“I saw you in this. I think when I did, I knew that I wanted to be the one to lift it from your face, to hear a minister pronounce us husband and wife.”
He lifted the veil and carefully moved it back, and then he cupped he
r cheeks in his gloved hands. “Penelope Lear, I asked your father today if he would allow me the honor of marrying his daughter.”
Her lips and chin trembled. She bit down on her bottom lip, trying to hold it all together.
“What did he say?”
“He said you’re a grown woman, and it is up to you. But he’d be proud to call me son.”
“Oh.”
“Oh?”
“I mean yes.” And then she wrapped her arms around him and he held her close. “Yes, I want to be your wife. Yes, please marry me.”
He pulled free again. “I forgot something important.”
“What’s that?”
“The ring. This was my grandmother’s. It isn’t new and the diamond isn’t the biggest. If you want to pick a ring, I understand, but if not, I’d love for you to wear this ring. My grandmother wore it for sixty years.”
“I want to wear it for seventy.” She pulled off her glove and he slid the diamond-and-pearl ring onto her finger.
“I love you, Penelope Lear. I love you for who you are.”
“I love you, too.”
“So you’ll marry me?” He leaned in and kissed her, making it hard to breathe, hard to answer.
“I will, but I think maybe we should find a real minister.”
“I’d like that very much.”
He hugged her tight, and when they kissed again. Snow was falling, and they could heard carols being sung. Penelope Lear had a groom of her own and life had never been sweeter.
Dear Reader,
Welcome to Treasure Creek, Alaska. It was a privilege to work on this story and to spend a little time acquainting myself with the great state of Alaska. As I researched the area and pored over pictures of the landscape and the small towns, I could see why our characters would want to take off from their “real lives” and experience the great outdoors, Alaska-style.
Penelope Lear is a great heroine. To the outside world she had everything, but she felt as if she had nothing. She wanted more, and what she found was faith. I think she’s like so many of us, searching to be who God called us to be and finding it in the most unlikely place.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
When Tucker Lawson’s father died, Tucker made a series of choices. The first was to leave Treasure Creek and fly to a cabin where he could think through his problems. He didn’t turn to God, but how did God use the situation Tucker found himself in?
Penelope showed up in Treasure Creek because of an article. Do you think she was looking for romance or something else?
Penelope found faith in Treasure Creek. How does she first show that it changed her life?
In hunting for the treasure, Penelope seems to go off without thinking ahead. She has everything, so why would this treasure mean so much to her?
Faced with his father’s death and the loss of a young woman he didn’t know, Tucker isn’t really searching for God. What is he looking for and how does that tie in to his lost faith?
The Johnsons have been living in this cabin for six months. They lost their son and they needed to find peace. How is their approach to grief the same as Tucker’s and yet different?
Tucker doesn’t want to like Penelope. He wants to believe she’s just another selfish socialite. How does she show him that she is different?
Faced with the long walk back to Treasure Creek and unknown enemies, Tucker pushes everyone to keep going, including Penelope. How does she handle the situation and how does that change their relationship?
Penelope is attracted to Tucker, but she’s looking for something more in life. Why is she holding back? He’s wealthy. He’s attractive. Isn’t that enough?
Back in Treasure Creek, Penelope has to stand her ground when she is reunited with her parents. Why is this important for her future?
Tucker believes he’s ready to head back to Seattle, even though he still has loose ends to tie up with his father’s estate. What continues to hold him to Treasure Creek?
Penelope is willing to do just about anything to help the town of Treasure Creek. She wants to find the treasure for the community. She is helping with the Christmas pageant. Does this have something to do with her history of going on trips to impoverished areas?
Does Penelope really know what she is searching for in life? Does she finally find that completeness in Treasure Creek?
Tucker is one of the men on Penelope’s father’s short list as a potential husband. Why would this be a problem for Penelope?
When do you believe Tucker really returns to his faith?
Special thanks and acknowledgment to Brenda Minton for her contribution to the Alaskan Bride Rush miniseries.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-7535-9
THANKSGIVING GROOM
Copyright © 2010 by Harlequin Books S.A.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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